Violence is something that drastically influences American Literature. Most people think of violence as a person physically hurting another person, but what most do not know is it can also mean something is wrong internally or has a wound from doing some kind of ordinary action. The suspense and rising action in books can come from a scene of violence. “Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings, but it can also be cultural and societal in it’s implications,” (Foster 95). What Foster was attempting to get across was violence is separated into two different categories: the first being caused by people, and the second being more an internal problem.
In the book Into the Wild, McCandless’ death affected Carine, McCandless’ sister. She couldn’t get through the day without processing his death through her mind. “She remained hysterical for the next five hours...” (Krakauer 130). Carine is going through a type of internal violence. When you are hurt by someone’s death, it is violence to the heart or you could call it mental violence. “How is it,” he wonders aloud as he gazes blankly across Chesapeake Bay, “ that a kid with so much compassion could cause his parents so much pain?” (Krakauer 104). Walt was confused and in distress about why Chris would not use his full potential for the good of the world. Chris had the potential to go to an extremely high level college, but he had his mind set on traveling and doing what he wanted to do. During his departure, he never once contacted his …show more content…
Blight. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2017. Print.
FOSTER, THOMAS C. HOW TO READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading between The... Lines. S.l.: HARPERCOLLINS, 2017. Print.
Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. New York: Jon Krakauer, 1996.